Improvement in heels for boots and shoes



Helsfof Boots and Shoes'.`

Patented Dec.26, 1871.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. EGGLEsToN, or MARSHALL, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Speciiieation forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,112, dated December 26, 1871.

I, CHARLES H. EGGLESTON, of the city of Marshall, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Heels for Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to a new and improved mode of manufacturing the heels of boots and shoes, by constructing them with molded shells of rubber, vulcanized to the proper degree of hardness, and exteriorly polished, as will be hereinafter more fully described, reference being had 4to the accompanying drawing, in which, full size- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of a ladys shoe, the rubber shell being molded and vulcanized on the filling. tion ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a section like Fig. l, but showing the heel as it appears when molded on a core-die, and the die removed to form a matrix. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the same.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe the Same; and I will say here that my object in partially incasing the heel with smooth hard rubber is to produce a heel thati cannot be readily torn or marred by wear or accident; will possess great durability 5. and be susceptible of such a brilliant permanent polish and of such close tex ture as to resist the action of water and prevent adhesion of mud and snow.

My invention consists in subjecting the rubber to the vulcanizin g process in contact with the body ofthe heel, shown at A in Figs. 1 and 2. The heelbody `may be of wood, or any material that will stand the requisite heat and is otherwise suitable 5' and it is first shaped to the .required size and style, as its use or fashion may dictate, with a concavity, c, shaped in the upper side to iit the proper convexity of the sole ofthe shoe. A strip of prepared soft rubber is then placed around the edge of the heel-body and both are placed within suitable die-molds and subjected to compression until the rubber is fairly molded, and it is' then vulcanized by the usual heating process. When Fig. 2 is a cross-sec-` the heel is taken from thmmoldit will be veneered `in a solid and permanent manner around the edge a with the hard rubber in nearly or quite a finished state, according to the smoothness of the die-mold. In the heel exhibited by Figs. 3 and et the edge shell a is molded with an upper seatshell of had rubber, as shown at c ,in the concavity of which the sole rests, and which forms a basis of attachment t` said sole by means of screws or other suitable means. The recess in the shell at B may be filled with feltin g or other desirable and proper material. In either mode of construction provision should be made for the attachment of a bottom layer for the heel tread, which layer should project below the bottom edge ofthe hard rubber shell; be capable of renewal when too much worn 5 and consist of leather, softish rubber, orother substance more or less elastic. C represents an elastic layer Vseated in a shallow recess, the edges being sprung into an inner ridge in the shell, and, if necessary, tacked tothe heel-body; or, in place of this mode, the body or filling ot' the heel may extend to the bottom of the shell and the tread layer attached outside; but in either Way I find it best to form a molded projection, as at c', along the lower edge ofthe shell, as itis not `only ornamental, but ser v es as a re-entorcer. Exceptin g as to merei'orm, boot-heels may be constructed substantially as herein described for ladies shoes or slippers.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The described process ot' veneering a shaped heel with hard rubber by placing sott rubber about the same, compressing it -into the desired shape by suitable dies, and hardening by subjection to the usual vnlcanizing process.

2. As a new'article of manufacture, a shaped heel veneered with hard rubber in the manner described. 

